PRE-OWNED VALUES
Sluggish Transaction Activity: Pre-owned business-jet transactions lost momentum during the first half of 2026 following unusually strong activity in 2025.
Transaction Trends: First-quarter transactions declined approximately 11% year over year, although activity remained about 9% above the 10-year first-quarter average. Trailing transaction growth fell from above 15% in December 2025 to the low single digits by spring.
Tighter Advertised Supply: By June, advertised used business-jet inventory was approximately 19% below the same period last year and essentially unchanged from May. However, many listed aircraft require significant maintenance, avionics, refurbishment, or records-related investment.
Transaction volume & Inventory
Extended Visibility: General aviation OEM backlogs remain historically strong, continuing to provide manufacturers with several years of production visibility.
Supply Constraints: Production growth remains limited by supply-chain pressure, workforce availability, and congestion throughout the maintenance, repair, and overhaul sector.
Strategic Value: Long "new-aircraft" delivery positions continue to support demand for desirable late-model pre-owned aircraft with strong maintenance histories and limited near-term capital requirements.
Manufacturer Backlogs
Sustained Utilization: Global business-jet activity through late June was approximately 3.7% above the same period in 2025, with June activity increasing roughly 2.7% year over year.
North American Strength: North American activity increased approximately 4.6% in June, led by a 4.9% increase in the United States.
Regional Performance: European activity declined approximately 0.5%, while weaker conditions in the Middle East affected activity outside Europe and North America. Trailing 12-month global departures were up approximately 5.1% through May.
Flight activity
Q3 2026
Business aviation entered the third quarter of 2026 with near-record flight activity, tighter advertised inventory, and a sluggish pre-owned sales market. Buyers remain interested, but many are delaying decisions as they evaluate pricing, maintenance exposure, operating costs, program coverage, financing, and future capital requirements.
The pre-owned business aircraft market lost momentum during the first half of 2026 following exceptionally strong transaction activity in 2025. While first-quarter transactions declined approximately 11% year over year, activity remained above historical averages and exceeded first-quarter levels in both 2023 and 2024. Transaction growth continued to slow through the second quarter as buyer and seller expectations remained misaligned. Buyers have become increasingly selective, placing greater emphasis on maintenance exposure, operating costs, financing, aircraft condition, and upcoming capital requirements, while many sellers have been slow to adjust pricing to reflect current market conditions.
Current market data shows increasingly aircraft-specific values, with greater pricing pressure on aging and maintenance-exposed assets:
Late-Model Aircraft: Well-maintained aircraft with complete records, current avionics, transferable program coverage, and limited near-term maintenance exposure remain scarce and continue to hold value.
Older Aircraft: Aircraft approaching major engine, airframe, landing-gear, inspection, avionics, or refurbishment expenses are experiencing longer marketing periods and greater pricing pressure.
Asking-Price Trends: Advertised used-jet asking values declined approximately 2.3% during June and were approximately 4.5% below the same period last year. Actual selling prices continue to depend heavily on condition, configuration, maintenance status, records, and seller motivation.
The market entered the third quarter with strong utilization but sluggish pre-owned transaction activity.
Buyers have greater leverage on aging, overpriced, or maintenance-exposed aircraft. Sellers retain leverage when offering late-model, well-maintained aircraft with complete records and limited near-term investment requirements.
Transaction activity during the second half of 2026 will depend heavily on realistic pricing and seller willingness to recognize current market conditions. For sellers, accurate positioning and thorough preparation will be essential. For buyers, disciplined technical and financial due diligence will remain critical.
The market remains active beneath the surface, but transactions are unlikely to accelerate until the gap between buyer and seller expectations narrows.